Turbine mounting means



July 16, 1963 w. J. PUGH' TURBINE MOUNTING MEANS Filed Nov. 21, 1961v v V I Q v INVENT Unite States 3,097,491 TURBINE MOUNTING MEANS William J. Pugh, 19 Lovett Place, Lynn, Mass. Filed Nov. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 153,794 2 Claims. (ill. 61-19) This invention relates to a Water turbine, and more particularly to a mounting means for such a water turbine.

The primary object of this invention is to provide a quick connect and quick disconnect mounting for a water turbine wherein the water turbine can be readily connected to or disconnected from a dam or obstruction placed in the channel of a body of water, and wherein the mounting of the present invention provides a means whereby the turbine can be quickly and easily connected or disconnected as desired or required.

A further object is to provide a turbine mounting means of the type stated which is adapted to be used for detachably mounting a turbine against a vertical wall or dam, and wherein the present invention is especially suitable for use with low power installations such as ten or fifteen horsepower turbines, the present invention providing an inexpensive and easy means for fastening turbines in place.

Still another object is to provide such a turbine mounting means that is economical to manufacture and efficient in operation and which is rugged in structure and foolproof in use.

These and other objects of the invention will become apparent from a reading of the following specification and claims, together with the accompanying drawings, wherein like parts are referred to and indicated by like reference characters and wherein:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational illustrating the turbine mounting means of the present invention, and with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary elevational view illustrating the upper portion of the support member or plate which is adapted to be fastened to the dam.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken through the turbine casing and showing the circular flange with the tongues or lugs thereon.

FIGURE 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the lower portion of the support member and showing the retaining lip or pocket.

FIGURE 6 is a horizontal sectional view showing certain constructional details of the present invention.

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary elevational view showing the lower portion of the support member with the struck out portions that provides the retaining lip or pocket.

FIGURE 8 is an elevational view on an enlarged scale of the clamping collar or bracket, and with parts broken away and in section.

FIGURE 9 is an elevational view of the ring member, with parts broken away and in section.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral 20 indicates a portion of a vertically disposed dam or obstruction which includes inner and outer surfaces 21 and 22, and in FIGURE 1 the numeral 23 indicates a body of water which is adapted to be backed up contiguous to the surface 21. The dam 20 is provided with an opening 24 therein, and the numeral 25 indicates an annular sleeve which extends through the opening 24, and a screen 26 is adapted to be suitably mounted adjacent the inlet end of the sleeve 25 so as to help prevent foreign matter, debris or the like from entering the turbine. The numeral 27 indicates a slidable or adjustable gate which is arranged contiguous to the screen 26, whereby the gate 3,097,491 Patented July 16, 1963 ice 27 can be adjusted to control the rate of flow of water through the element 25.

As shown in the drawings a vertically disposed support member or plate 23 is arranged contiguous to the surface 22 of the darn 2i), and the support member 28 is adapted to be secured in place to the dam 20 as for example by means of bolts or securing elements 29 which can be extended through apertures or openings 30 in the support member 28. The support member 28 is provided with a circular opening 31 which registers with the opening 24 so that water can flow therethrough as later described in this application.

The support member 28 is provided with a pair of spaced apart struck-out portions 32 which define or provide pockets, and there is provided. in the lower portion of the support member 28 a struck-out section or portion 33 which defines a retaining lip.

The numeral 34 indicates the turbine casing which is shown to comprise a horizontally disposed cylindrical portion 35 that has a circular flange 36 on an end thereof, and a pair of diametrically opposed spaced apart lugs or tongues 37 are formed integral with the flange 36, and the lugs 37 are adapted to be received in and engage the pockets 32. The flange 36 is provided with a plurality of spaced apart apertures or openings 38 therein so that when it is desired to fixedly mount or permanently mount the turbine in place contiguous to the dam, suitable fasteners or securing elements such as bolts or the like can be extended through such apertures 38 and into engagement with the support member and dam.

The numeral 39 indicates a gasket or sealing element that is interposed between the flange 36 and the adjacent portion of the support member 28.

As shown in FIGURE 1, the casing 34 includes a vertically disposed portion 40 which has an enlarged portion or section 41 contiguous to the lower end thereof, and the numeral 42 indicates a rotary turbine or rotor which is arranged in the enlarged portion 41. A vertically disposed shaft 43 has its lower portion suitably connected to the turbine 42, and the shaft 43 may have a pulley 44 on the upper end thereof whereby power can be taken off from the pulley 44 of any desired purpose so that the rotation of the turbine and shaft can be used for providing rotary motion for any desired purpose. The numeral 45 indicates a packing joint and bearing assembly for the upper portion of the shaft 43 in the casing 34.

Mounted below the turbine casing is a tapered fluid discharge nozzle 46, and the nozzle 46 has a circular outwardly extending shoulder 47 on the upper end thereof. The numeral 48 indicates a clamping collar or bracket which comprises a horizontally disposed annular wall section 49 that is arranged contiguous to the lower surface of the shoulder 47, and the collar 48 further includes an annular wall portion 50 which has apertures 51 therein whereby fasteners or securing elements such as set screws 52 can be extended through the apertures 51 and into engagement with the lower portion of the turbine casing for helping to maintain the parts in their proper assembled position.

The numeral 53 indicates an inclined lug or tongue which is secured to or formed integral with the collar 48, and the lug 53 is adapted to engage the lip or pocket 33 on the lower portion of the support member 28 as shown in the drawings. The numeral 54 indicates a ring member which comprises a circular portion 55 that is interposed between the lower end of the casing 34 and the upper end of the nozzle 46. The ring member 54 further includes a central hub 56 which has an opening or recess 57 therein for snugly receiving the lower end of a thrust bearing 58 on the lower portion of the shaft 43. The

numeral 59 indicates a plurality of spaced apart radially disposed arms which extend between the hub 56 and the circular portion 55 of the ring member 54, FIGURE 6.

As shown in FIGURE 3, the support member 28 is provided with spaced apart apertures or openings 69 which are adapted to register with the apertures 38 in the flange 36 so that when the turbine is to be fixedly secured to the dam, suitable securing elements such as bolts or the like can be extended through the registering apertures 38 and 60.

From the foregoing, it is apparent that there has been provided a mounting for a turbine and wherein the present invention permits the turbine to be readily connected to or disconnected from a darn as desired or required. While FIGURE 1 illustrates only one turbine mounted adjacent the dam, it is to be understood that the number of turbines being used can be varied as desired or required.

With the parts arranged as shown in the drawings, it will be seen that water such as the water 23 is adapted to be backed up behind the dam or obstruction 20, and this water is adapted to flow through the screen 26 and then through the hollow sleeve 25, and by adjusting the position of the gate 27, the amount of water flowing through the member 25 can be controlled or regulated as desired. With the turbine casing 34 in operative position, it will be seen that the water which flows through the element 25 will flow out through the opening 31 since the opening 31 registers with the opening 24, and this water will then flow through the horizontal portion 35 of the casing 34 and then down through the vertical portion 40' wherein the water will impinge against the blades or vanes of the rotor or turbine 42 so as to rotate the turbine 42, in the housing or portion 41 of the turbine casing 34. Since the shaft 43 is connected to the turbine 42, it will be seen that as the turbine 42 rotates due to the action of the water striking against the blades thereof, the shaft 43 will likewise be rotated, and the shaft 43 can be used for supplying useful energy for any desired purpose, as for example the shaft 43 can be used to rotate the pulley 44 which may have a belt or the like arranged in engagement therewith, and also the shaft 43 can be used for any other desired or required purpose. The

shaft 43 has its lower end supported by the thrust hearing 58 which is seated in the recess 57 of the hub 56, and the hub 56 is an integral part of the ring member 54, and the ring member 54 is of a size and configuration whereby it is snugly received between the lower end of the casing 34 and the shoulder 47 on the upper end of the nozzle 46. The nozzle 46 has a generally tapered formation so that this tapered nozzle will help cause the water to be discharged downwardly with the desired pressure or velocity. The arms 59 of the ring member 54 are spaced apart as shown in FIGURE 6 so that the water can pass downwardly between the arms 59. The collar 48 includes the lower wall section &9 which engages below the shoulder 47, and the collar 48 also includes the annular wall portion 50 which has the aperture 51 therein, whereby setscrews 52 can be extended through the aperture 51 and into engagement with the lower portion of the casing 34 in order to maintain the parts in their proper assembled position. The downwardly inclined lug 53 is formed integral with the collar '48, and the lug '53 is adapted to engage the pocket or lip 33. Similarly, the lugs 37 which are aifixed to the flange 36 are adapted to engage the pockets 32. Due to the provision of these interengaging lugs and pockets, it will be seen'that the turbine will be properly supported contiguous to the side 22 of the dam 20. However, when it is desired to remove the turbine, the entire turbine can a be lifted upwardly so that the lugs 37 will move out of able securing elements such as bolts or the like can be extended through the registering apertures 38 and 66 to provide a permanent fastening means for mounting means for the turbine.

The parts can be made of any suitable material and in different shapes or sizes.

With the present invention the weight of the turbine will help insure that the parts will be maintained in their proper position due to the action of gravity. The present invention is especially suitable for use with power installations of smaller capacity or size such as up to ten or fifteen horsepower, and the present invention provides an inexpensive and easy way of fastening turbines to vertical dams. The parts are constructed so that proper alignment of the turbine will be insured as for example when the parts are in the position of FIGURE 1.

Minor changes in shape, size and rearrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the character described, a vertically disposed dam adapted to have water backed up contiguous thereto, said dam including inner and outer surfaces and said dam having an opening therein, an annular sleeve mounted in said opening, a screen arranged contiguous to the inner surface of said dam adjacent said sleeve, an adjustable gate contiguous to said screen, a vertically dis- .posed support member arranged adjacent the outer surface of the darn, said support member having an opening therein which registers with the opening in the dam, securing elements extending through said support member and into engagement with said dam, portions of said support member on opposite sides of the opening in the support member being struck-out to provide a pair of spaced apart pockets, a struck-out section on the lower portion of the support member providing a retaining lip; a turbine casing including a horizontally disposed cylindrical portion having an annular flange thereon, inclined lugs afiixed to said flange for engaging said pockets, a sealing element interposed between said flange and support member, said casing further including a vertically disposed portion having an enlargement on the lower end thereof, a rotary turbine arranged in said enlargement, a vertically disposed shaft extending through the vertically disposed portion of said casing and said shaft having its lower end connected to said turbine, a tapered fluid discharge nozzle mounted below said casing, an annular shoulder on the upper end of said nozzle, a collar including a horizontally disposed annular wall section arranged contiguous to the lower surface of said shoulder, said collar further including an annular wall portion having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therein, screw members extending through said last named apertures and engaging the lower portion of the casing; an inclined lug on said collar engaging the retaining lip on the support member; a ring member including a circular portion interposed between the lower end of said casing and the upper end of said nozzle, and said ring member including a central hub having an opening therein for receiving a bearing on the lower end of the shaft, and a plurality of radially disposed arms extending between said hub and the circular portion of the ring member.

2. In a device of the character described, a vertically disposed dam adapted to have water backed up contiguous thereto, said dam including inner and outer surfaces and said dam having an opening therein, an annular sleeve mounted in said opening, a screen arranged contiguous. to the inner surface of said dam adjacent said sleeve, an adjustable gate contiguous to said screen, a vertically disposed support member arranged adjacent the outer surface of the dam, said support member having an opening therein which registers with the opening in the dam, securing elements extending through said support member and into engagement with said dam, portions of said support member on opposite sides of the opening in the support member being struck-out to provide a pair of spaced apart pockets, a struck-out section on thelower portion of the support member providing a retaining lip; a turbine casing including a horizontally disposed cylindrical portion having an annular flange thereon, inclined lugs afiixed to said flange for engaging said pockets, a sealing element interposed between said flange and support member, said casing further including a vertically disposed portion having an enlargement on the lower end thereof, a rotary turbine arranged in said enlargement, a vertically disposed shaft extending through the vertically disposed portion of said casing and said shaft having its lower end connected to said turbine, a tapered fiuidl discharge nozzle mounted below said casing, an annular shoulder on the upper end of said nozzle, a collar including a horizontally disposed annular wall section arranged contiguous to the lower surface of said shoulder, said collar further including an annular Wall portion having a plurality of spaced apart apertures therein, screw members extending through said last named apertures and engaging the lower portion of the casing; an inclined lug on said collar engaging the retaining lip on the support member; a ring member including a circular portion interposed between the lower end of said casing and the upper end of said nozzle, and said ring member including a central hub having an opening therein for receiving a bearing on the lower end of the shaft, and a pl-urality of radially disposed arms extending between said hub and the circular portion of the ring member, there being a plurality of spaced apart apertures in said flange for at times receiving securing elements.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 784,962 Reed Mar. 14, 1905 1,247,938 Curtenius Nov. 27, 1917 

1. IN A DEVICE OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED DAM ADAPTED TO HAVE WATER BACKED UP CONTIGUOUS THERETO, SAID DAM INCLUDING INNER AND OUTER SURFACES AND SAID DAM HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN, AN ANNULAR SLEEVE MOUNTED IN SAID OPENING, A SCREEN ARRANGED CONTIGUOUS TO THE INNER SURFACE OF SAID DAM ADJACENT SAID SLEEVE, AN ADJUSTABLE GATE CONTIGUOUS TO SAID SCREEN, A VERTICALLY DISPOSED SUPPORT MEMBER ARRANGED ADJACENT THE OUTER SURFACE OF THE DAM, SAID SUPPORT MEMBER HAVING AN OPENING THEREIN WHICH REGISTERS WITH THE OPENING IN THE DAM, SECURING ELEMENTS EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SUPPORT MEMBER AND INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID DAM, PORTIONS OF SAID SUPPORT MEMBER ON OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE OPENING IN THE SUPPORT MEMBER BEING STRUCK-OUT TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF SPACED APART POCKETS, A STRUCK-OUT SECTION ON THE LOWER PORTION OF THE SUPPORT MEMBER PROVIDING A RETAINING LIP; A TURBINE CASING INCLUDING A HORIZONTALLY DISPOSED CYLINDRICAL PORTION HAVING AN ANNULAR FLANGE THEREON, INCLINED LUGS AFFIXED TO SAID FLANGE FOR ENGAGING SAID POCKETS, A SEALING ELEMENT INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID FLANGE AND SUPPORT MEMBER, SAID CASING FURTHER INCLUDING A VERTICALLY SIDPOSED PORTION HAVING AN ENLARGEMENT ON THE LOWER END 